...what should have been a fairly easy task of defeating their FA Cup Preliminary Round opponents, Northern Counties East outfit, Mickleover Sports.

Manager Lee Wilson made two changes to the side that had beaten Lincoln in the previous match. Ben Saunders making his first start in the place of Lheureau Menga up front and Lee Marshall returning in midfield for the absent Damian Magee.

An unusual 'stat' in the game's line-up was the appearance of two sets of identical twins. Ben and Sam Saunders for Shepshed and, former Dovecote favourites, Joe and Sam Carter for Mickleover.

Shepshed started well and should have taken the lead in the 4th minute when, with the visitors appealing for offside, Shane Benjamin was allowed to run on. Unfortunately the Dynamo's leading scorer shot inches wide of the post.

Shepshed continued to press and Rob Norris was unlucky when, completely unmarked in the penalty area, an evil bounce denied him a goal scoring chance. But a goal had to come and come it did in the 16th minute when Norris delightfully touched a ball on to Benjamin who volleyed into the far corner of the net giving the visitors keeper, Danny Tollerfield, no chance.

Mickleover hit back and were given a good chance of an early equalizer when they were awarded a free kick for shirt pulling on the edge of the area. Liam Walshe's shot however rebounded back to him off the wall and his second attempt was cleared.

On the half hour mark Mickleover were awarded another free kick in the same place. This time Walshe came closer, his kick clearing the wall, but rebounding off the bar.

The quality of play in the last quarter of the first half left a lot to be desired and the way Shepshed started the second half gave the impression of a fairly heated lecture during the break.

Within six minutes Shepshed increased their lead and what a good goal it was. A good pass from midfield to the right flank found Benjamin who went on a determined run before feeding Norris. From just outside the area the Shepshed No7 unleashed a shot which Tollerfield stopped but could not hold leaving Ben Saunders with the easy task of tapping the ball home.

With a two goal advantage the game was surely won. No! Three minutes later Shepshed were to present Mickleover with a goal that was just pure farce. A Shepshed attack broke down and the ball was played out to Tony Law on the right flank, just inside his own half. Law turned to find the Shepshed back line had disappeared and keeper Gary Hateley was 30 yards out of his goal in no-mans-land. Law ran on and from 40 yards lobbed the ball over the retreating Hateley into the net.

Benjamin came close to restoring the two goal lead in the 75th minute when from a cross by Sam Saunders he beat his marker for speed and hooked his shot over the keeper only for the ball to rebound out off the bar.

In the dying minute Mickleover desperately sought an equalizer David Middleditch blazed over from 25 yards and Ricky Hanson managed to deflect a goal bound Karl Ashton shot out for a corner. With Shepshed hanging on the referee added five minutes and in the second of those minutes Shepshed scored.

The visitors were awarded a free kick just yards inside their own half. Keeper Tollerfield took the kick but his long ball only found a defender who cleared the ball up field finding Shepshed substitute Graham Epps who copied Law's previous goal by netting from 40 yards.

Back came Mickleover and with seconds remaining Ashton found acres of space in the home defence to crack home from 15 yards. Fortunately for Shepshed there was no time left on the clock.

Shepshed: Hateley, Hanson, Fletcher, Screaton, D.Norwood, Robinson, Norris, Marshall (Butler 89), Benjamin (Wilkins 87), B.Saunders (Epps 85), S Saunders. Subs not used: Menga, Frecklington, Walker, A Norwood.

Att: 167.

Shepshed Building Society Man Of The Match: Ian Robinson.